August 28, 2011
Morning Service

Colossians 3

 

Review:

In chapter two the Apostle taught us that if we are in Christ, and remember we get into Christ by being baptized into Christ.  Gal 3:27 KJVR  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

• We should be free from being deceived with enticing words.
• We should be free from vain philosophy.
• We should be free from improper worship.
• And free from the doctrines of men.

Paul taught us concerning the circumcision of Christ;

• Col 2:12-13 KJVR  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  (13)  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

With this thought in mind let us begin chapter 3;

 

THE POSITION OF THE BELIEVER:

Col 3:1-25 KJVR  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

• You can’t say it any clearer than this.  Jesus is sitting on the seat of authority in the Heavens, somewhere. 

 

• Psa 110:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
• Mat 26:64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
• Act 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
• Act 7:55  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
• Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
• Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
• Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
• Heb 1:13  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
• Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
• Heb 10:12  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;
• Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• 1Pe 3:22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

 

Now I want to revisit this thought:

• Heb 1:13  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

 

 

 

 

Paul teaching the church at Corinth;

• 1Co 15:12-28 KJVR  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  (13)  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  (14)  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  (15)  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  (16)  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  (17)  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  (18)  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  (19)  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  (20)  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  (21)  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  (23)  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.  (24)  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  (25)  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  (26)  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  (27)  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.  (28)  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

 

Three things about God the Father:

1. Joh 4:23-24 KJVR  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  (24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
2. Mat 1:18 KJVR  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
3. 1Jo 4:16 KJVR  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The Eternal Spirit, Who Jesus referred to as His Heavenly Father, is the Holy Ghost of Love.  Now I don’t wrestle with the Scriptures, but I don’t picture God the Father with a long white beard sitting on a throne in Heaven.  We have just heard from the Apostle that when all enemies, the last being death, are put under the feet of Jesus, Jesus is going to turn the Kingdom back over to the Father, the Eternal Spirit of Love.  With that thought in mind let us look at what John saw, chapter 4 of Revelations;

• Rev 4:1-3 KJVR  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.  (2)  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.  (3)  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

Then notice how the One sitting on the throne is described.

• Rev 4:10-11 KJVR  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

John teaches us:

• Joh 1:1-3 KJVR  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

We have already seen in this letter we are studying that Jesus created all things;  Col 1:16 KJVR  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

 

CHRISTIAN, YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED UP FROM THE WATERS OF BAPTISM TO LIVE IN THE REALM OF HEAVENLY PLACES.  THEREFORE THE APOSTLE SAYS,

(2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3)  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  (4)  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, QUICKEN TO OUR HEARTS THE GLORY, AND SPLENDER OF YOUR EXISTANCE, AND HELP US TO SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE.